The head of the Junior Union, Johannes Winkel, is calling on the federal government to implement a decisive and large-scale tax reform, warning that if the changes are insignificant, the entire project should be scrapped. Speaking to “Stern,” Winkel argued that passing a restructuring that barely makes a difference to people’s personal finances is pointless, especially when achieving a major political breakthrough is possible.
He emphasized that the era of formulaic compromises is over, arguing that the reform must have a volume “significantly exceeding 20 billion euros.” While differing from the more conservative wing of his own party, Winkel stated that he is not bound by rigid adherence to specific political lines. He referenced the recent work of the pension commission as proof of what can be achieved when political figures step outside their traditional ideological boundaries, suggesting a similar mindset is needed for the income tax reform.
Winkel noted that progress will stall if all parties remain entrenched in ideological positions. He recalled a previous reform concept presented by young Union members Yannick Bury and Florian Dorn, which aimed to noticeably ease the burden of income taxes while simultaneously phasing out government subsidies. Winkel stressed that reducing subsidies is necessary even without a full tax overhaul. His approach, he explained, was to reduce subsidies uniformly across all sectors rather than cutting specific industry support. “We prefer not to favor any particular industry and instead create the same starting conditions for everyone,” he stated.
He directed this expectation not only at the Social Democrats but also at the Union, pointing out that the party has made numerous promises during the election campaign that are simply no longer financially viable. Addressing the coalition leaders before an upcoming meeting, Winkel affirmed his preference for impact: “If I had the choice between presenting a formula compromise before the summer break or a major change after the summer break, I would certainly opt for the big leap.”
